| Abstract: | Abstract The use of intravenous glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa platelet receptor antagonists in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome or those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become increasingly common in recent years. There are three GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists currently available for clinical use. Patients on GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists who require emergency surgical revascularization may be at increased risk for excessive peri‐and postoperative bleeding. The duration of action of eptifibatide and tirofiban are short because they bind reversibly to the GP IIb/IIIa receptor and have a short half‐life. Therefore, within a relatively short time after discontinuation of these agents, surgery can be performed with little or no increased risk of bleeding and without the need for additional hemostatic measures. Abciximab has a short plasma half‐life but a long duration of action due to its high‐affinity binding of GP IIb/IIIa receptors. Early retrospective studies demonstrated a higher incidence of major bleeding and requirement for blood transfusion, especially in those undergoing surgery within 12 hours of the discontinuation of abciximab. However, platelet transfusion has been shown to successfully reduce the incidence of these complications. The current evidence therefore indicates that, with appropriate measures, urgent surgical revascularization can be safely performed in patients who have received a GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist with little added risk. The benefits of these agents in the treatment of patients with an acute coronary syndrome or undergoing PCI are not obviated by the need for emergency bypass surgery. |
